Rugby world-wide is embracing females to become part of the
modern Game as much as males and Indonesian Rugby has begun working with
a group of young ladies from the Mama Sayang Orphanage in Jonggol,
south of Jakarta in an effort to develop a core group of female Rugby
enthusiasts. One of these young ladies features in this month's “Rugby
in Indonesia” Newsletter.

This young lady from Mama Sayang Orphanage is part of the recently
commenced Indonesian Women’s Rugby Training, held each Saturday morning
at the Jakarta International School from 10am-12pm. There are currently
18 young ladies involved in this program and it is hoped that the number
of participants increases over time. Indonesian Rugby has been
supporting the Mama Sayang Orphanage through the Priscilla Hall Memorial
Foundation since 2005.

Esteriana "Ester" Ekawati

1. When did you first hear about Rugby? I first heard about rugby 7 years ago, when I was in Year 8 at High School.

2. What do you know about Indonesian Rugby? Indonesian
rugby is a moderately popular sport, dating back several decades and it
has experienced some success in recent times. I think in Indonesia the
Game of Rugby is normally played by men.

3. Why do you love Rugby? I love rugby because it's
physically demanding and there is always action. I have to use my head
logically, as well as my physical abilities. In Rugby, you can have an
all-star but they literally can't do anything without their teammates.
EVERYONE has a job to do.

4. What are your favourite Rugby teams? Queensland Reds, Wallabies and All Blacks.

5. Who are your favourite Rugby players? Quade Cooper, Will Genia and James O'Connor.

6. Do you think Rugby is a game that Indonesians can play and enjoy? Yes. Everyone can play Rugby and enjoy it. There is no limitation. Rugby can unite people across Indonesia.

7. What benefits do you see Rugby having for young ladies from Mama Sayang Orphanage?
The girls can have fun and really enjoy the Game. We also have to learn
to communicate a lot, work as a team and support our friends. Rugby
helps to make our friendship stronger. Rugby may seem tough for girls,
but I can see lots of smiles and laughter coming up from their faces.

8. What role do you see girls and ladies having in the development of Indonesian Rugby? I
can see the girls having the same opportunities as the boys. The girls
can do what the boys can do. Sport for Women in Indonesia is not really a
big thing and only a few people can really get a chance to enjoy it.
Rugby can change our mindset.

9. What are your Rugby dreams? I hope that everyone in
Indonesia can learn about Rugby, especially that is not just played by
men but also women. It would be great if Indonesian Women can play in an
International Championship and everyone supports it. I would like to be
part of it.

10. Any other thoughts and ideas that you have about Indonesian Rugby?
I want to say congratulations to PRUI for getting approval from KONI. I
am very happy that Rugby has been approved as one of Indonesia's
National Sports.

A new era in Indonesian Women's Rugby kicked off last Saturday,
February 9, when sixteen young ladies from the Mama Sayang Orphanage
(located at Jonggol, south of Jakarta) gathered at the Jakarta
International School (JIS) for the inaugural training session of 2013. I
helped conduct the session along with David Nye and we knew from the
minute that we arrived that we were in for a good session as the girls
were already bursting with enthusiasm.

Prior to kicking off the training session we had a quick chat with the
girls and told them that whilst Rugby is a hard game, we were going to
teach them a 'fun way' to learn Rugby thanks to a new pilot program
called "Get Into Rugby" which is been trialed in a number of developing
Rugby nations such as Indonesia. The girls certainly took on board the
notion of having fun as their faces beamed with smiles from start to
finish.

For many of the girls this was their first introduction to Rugby,
however it was very interesting to observe how quickly they all picked
up the simplest but most important skill of Rugby, namely 'catch and
pass' whilst running straight. The great thing about the "Get Into
Rugby" program is that it teaches children the basics of Rugby through a
number a fun games over an eight-week period, such that at the end of
that period, the children can play a game of Rugby 7's. Given the
success of Saturday's first session, I am extremely confident that some
of this group will go onto represent Indonesia in future international
tournaments leading up to and including the 2015 South East Asian Games
(SEAG) in Singapore.

Indonesian Rugby is very grateful to Britmindo who have donated a full
training kit (shirts, shorts, socks, boots, mouth guards and backpacks)
to each of the girls. These kits were presented by David Nye on behalf
of Britmindo, to each of the girls at the end of the first training
session. Mr. Mike Hilliard from Mama Sayang's said he and all the girls
were most grateful to Britmindo for their kind support. Indonesian Rugby
has also donated several balls to the girls so that they can practice
after school each day out at Jonggol. The Union also plans to send a
Rugby Development Officer out to the orphanage on a weekly basis in the
not so distant future.

Indonesian Rugby is also most grateful to JIS for making a field
available each Saturday so that these training sessions can take place. For
those interested in joining in next Saturday as a player or coach then
please feel free to be at Field 4 at JIS before the 10am start time
(sessions finish at 12pm); best to use the back entrance to JIS off Jl.
Simatupang.

Indonesian Rugby has had a connection with Mama Sayang Orphanage through
the Priscilla Hall Memorial Foundation (PHMF) since mid-2005 and the
Union has helped raised much needed funds for PHMF and the orphanage
during that time. For more information on Mama Sayang Orphanage please
go to: http://www.mamasayang.org/

Situated in Cileungsi, Bogor, the Mama Sayang Orphanage is a
bit of a challenge to get to. To keep us from getting lost, Mike
Hilliard, founder of the orphanage, offered to meet us halfway as we
made our way to the orphanage. We met him at the McDonalds not far from
the Cibubur toll gate, and completed the remaining 45-minute commute led
by Mike’s car. Along the way we passed the Taman Buah Mekar Sari
(Mekar Sari Amazing Tourism Park) before
reaching Citra Indah Bukit Menteng, the housing complex where the
orphanage is situated.

Mike Stanton Hilliard, 62, was keeping an eye on children at the Mama Sayang orphanage when The Jakarta Post arrived for an interview one afternoon.

They were shoveling sand into plastic bags and carrying them inside
for minor construction work on the house. The children were five to 17
years old.

""We started this orphanage seven years ago. We
came at the request of some churches to help with drug problems, and
without the specific backing of any churches or organizations. We came
at our own cost,"" Mike, a Christian clergyman, told the Post.